tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928835.post5563385012534360363..comments2023-08-18T15:04:30.679+01:00Comments on Bike Darlington: Whoops - No Brakes! Never Mind, I've Got a HelmetMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05308666493490068369noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928835.post-86887843728546006332011-03-17T13:17:05.438+00:002011-03-17T13:17:05.438+00:00As an advocate for "Disabled Sport" duri...As an advocate for "Disabled Sport" during 14 seasons of riding the bike in Europe i have hit the deck both at speed and slowly with the helmet getting a lot of damage on occasions . <br />Here in Austria this year Cycling Helmets have become compulsory for school children following on from an earlier requirement for them to be worn on the snowfields . <br />Careless Advertising does not detract from the fact that a young life will be damaged IF head hits ground . Spending money on a bike does not always result in it being used safely and the user having safe and carefree journeys .<br />Who amongst you would drive under the influence of Alcohol or fail to pay their insurances knowing there was a certainty of losing money when apprehended ?skippyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10045948860442711266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928835.post-61643507437779814352011-03-16T09:41:26.531+00:002011-03-16T09:41:26.531+00:00I have to relate cycle helmet use to my experience...I have to relate cycle helmet use to my experience of riding motorcycles for a fair few number of years. I’ve been “unintentionally removed” from my bikes several times, the last occasion when stationary. A side swipe, my speed at impact zero, and – thankfully - the car that hit me was travelling at about 5mph. <br />Battered and bruised I picked myself up, removed my bone dome and swore rather a lot.<br />Once you’ve had an impact on a helmet, it becomes useless and should be binned and this I did with mine. But before I chucked it, I have to say there was a rather deep gouge at the top. If I had been ejected from my saddle without the helmet that gouge would have been in my skull.<br />What lessons have I learned? Firstly, even low speed impact can damage my already frail brain box. Secondly, if riding in mixed traffic on two wheels I will ALWAYS come of worse every time should someone else, or me, make a mistake. Thirdly, play the odds of injury and try to reduce them in your favour, stick a bone dome on when riding on busy roads – PLEASE – and I don’t care who or what organisation promotes this, if it gets youngsters to wear a bone dome, that in my book is great news. If the U.K. ever becomes like the Netherlands, then fine, chuck them. <br /><br />As to helmet use being made compulsory, a big fat no as one of the pleasure of riding a cycle is the freedom it grants, and as the video shows, no need on quite paths or places where cyclists are in the majority and vehicles in the minority, the odds here of injury have been considerably reduced.<br /><br />The video shows the Australian town from whence the lady objector cycles with nice, quite, wide streets, but occasionally shows other busy locations where not wearing a helmet would be, for want of a better word, rather stupid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com